I used just under one ball of pure wool, which was actually too thick for this design, but it sort of works…it just feels like you’ve got a sheep on your head!!

The design is by DROPS.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d take on a project like this! I don’t consider myself an experienced knitter and this pattern starts on DPN’s and moves to circs. I’m also not too good at dealing with lots of stitches, my attention span gets bored easily and this went over 200 stitches for the brim.

But I have to say I’m chuffed with the finished result. Unlike the pattern, I did it all in one colour as I’m only going to wear it for gardening. It is made from pure cotton so it should keep my head cool. The pattern is Sunshine & Lollipops by Alison Reeve, and I have to say it is a very well written pattern, complete with a ‘recipe’ for making the hat to fit your own head. Needless to say I had to knit mine in a BIG size, yes I am a big head, it’s official!

If you’re asking why I didn’t just buy a hat, well the answer is simple. As I said earlier I have a big head and find most bought hats don’t fit. I also got the cotton off eBay at a very reasonable price, so excluding costing for the actual hours it took to make, it only cost around £2.00, that’s a bargain

Here is a picture of the finished hat during blocking, the next picture is about half way through, and the first…well the beginning!

I used the pattern from Knitting On The Net, but chose to gently felt mine as I used Twilleys Freedom Spirit Wool in the Fire colourway.

It measures 24cm at the widest points, 14cm across the bottom and 18cm top to bottom excluding the strap.

I found the pattern for this in a 1970′s Patons booklet. It measures approximately 24cm by 32cm, excluding handles, which I think are rather cute! It is lined in a blue fabric with white dots.

Just a little Scarflette to keep Chris’s neck warm in Winter…yes I know it’s Summer…but you never know with British weather!! I used Sirdar Bigga in Hawaii colourway. The beauty of this Scarflette is the clever design, there is a hole on one side you put the other side through, so it stays put and keeps out the cold even better!

And no, it is not Chris modelling it!!

Pattern courtesy of Extreme Spinner

This was knitted with two strands of Wendy Mohair, one size fits all.

The ‘model’ is Ezra, we purchased him for £1 for Halloween 2003 and he’s been part of the family ever since, usually sitting near the top of the stairs on his throne!